2023 Student Salmon Surveys on the Klamath

This fall, MKWC led over 50 6th-8th grade students on salmon surveys. Each week rain or shine, students suited up in waterproof waders and navigated tributaries to the Klamath River where Fall Chinook were actively spawning. Students observed over 100 live salmon, identified and marked a total of 43 redds, the rocky nests where salmon lay their eggs, and took samples from 3 salmon carcasses. For over 20 years, local youth have been involved in monitoring the Fall Chinook of this region, collecting real-world data that has major implications for fisheries management. Thank you to all of the students and staff that were involved in the salmon survey effort this year! It was a fun and rewarding season.

These surveys would not be possible without support from Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District, KTJUSD Office of Indian Education, and Happy Camp Elementary School. Many thanks also to our partners at the US Forest Service in Orleans and Happy Camp for working with us to offer this opportunity to local youth.